Child Welfare Programs Research Articles

United Nations Goals for Child Welfare in Pakistan: An Analysis of Midpoint Agenda

The primary objective of this study was to examine Pakistan's child welfare policies and programs in light of the United Nations' goals for 2030. The study aims to examine Pakistan's performance in child-related SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and to compare it to its neighbors, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and India. As a 'Quant-Qual Cross-sectional Study,' the researchers reviewed a number of secondary data sources available through their websites. Along with these many sources of quantitative data, the researchers also obtained qualitative information (e.g., child policies, programs, legislation, plans of action, etc.). It was a halfway evaluation, named the "Midpoint Agenda," of what is to be achieved by 2030. The Midpoint Agenda was analyzed in May 2024, nearly halfway through the UN goals set in 2015. The analysis of data leads us to the conclusion that child welfare in Pakistan remains at a residual level after 77 years. The welfare personnel's justified attitude has made it clear that Pakistan's residual welfare is the result of insufficient public investment and poor governance. Urgent attention is also required to overhaul all child welfare programs and instruments.

A Mediating Effect of Public Service Motivation on Retention Intention Among Child Welfare Students: Task Self-Efficacy

ABSTRACT Purpose This study investigates the role of Public Service Motivation (PSM) in retaining highly skilled and qualified child welfare graduates within the public child welfare sector. Materials and methods Three entire cohorts of child welfare student social workers over three years (N = 125) in BSW and MSW child welfare programs at seven universities in a Southern state were surveyed to examine the effects of task self-efficacy achieved through the curriculum and public service motivation on retention intention among social work students specializing in child welfare practice at both the baccalaureate and master’s levels. Mediation analysis was conducted to estimate the indirect effect of self-efficacy on students’ retention intention. Results The self-efficacy of child welfare students, operationalized as their confidence in performing competencies, significantly influences their intention to remain in the field of child welfare. Furthermore, self-efficacy among child welfare students has a statistically significant effect on their PSM. PSM, in turn, significantly impacts their intention to persist in child welfare work. Discussion The findings indicate that PSM partially mediates the relationship between students” self-efficacy and their intent to remain in child welfare work, even when controlling for educational background. We recommend that child welfare agencies recognize and nurture workers” PSM by incorporating practices that promote PSM.

Evaluation of “Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools” (CBITS) in child welfare programs in Germany: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundChildren and adolescents growing up in child welfare institutions have been frequently exposed to traumatic events and psychosocial stress and show elevated rates of mental disorders. Yet, there is a lack of empirically supported treatments to provide adequate mental health care for children in care suffering from trauma-related mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. The Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) is an evaluated trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral group intervention, which has proven to be effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety for traumatized children in group settings. The trial will evaluate the effectiveness of the CBITS intervention as an outreach treatment compared with an enhanced treatment-as-usual condition (TAU +) within the German mental health and child welfare system.MethodsIn a randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving N = 90 children and adolescents, we will compare CBITS with TAU + . Participants between 8 and 16 years, reporting at least one traumatic event and moderate posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), will be randomized within their child welfare institution to either one of the conditions using a CATS-2 severity-stratified block randomization. Assessments will take place at baseline, as well as 4 months and 10 months after baseline. The primary outcome is the severity of PTSS after 4 months. Secondary outcomes are depression, anxiety, irritability/anger, quality of life, and global functioning level.DiscussionThe results of our trial will provide evidence regarding effective treatment options for traumatized children in care, which represent an understudied population with limited access to mental health care. Additionally, it could serve as a blueprint for implementing trauma-focused outreach group treatments for children in care and increase the accessibility to appropriate treatment.Trial registrationClinical Trials.gov NCT06038357 D. September 13, 2023.

A Longitudinal Analysis of Trajectories and Predictors of Fidelity Using the SafeCare Parenting Model.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) fidelity, understood as the extent to which a program is implemented as the developers intended, is a key implementation variable which likely relates to consumer outcomes. However, studies that track fidelity longitudinally and at large scale are uncommon, and finding reliable predictors of fidelity has proven to be a complex challenge. Further, attitudes toward EBP are a potentially important predictor of fidelity, but results across the literature have been mixed. The purpose of the present study is to use data from the ongoing implementation and dissemination of the SafeCare model to better understand (1) the characteristics of SafeCare implementation fidelity trajectories, and (2) whether individual level factors predict differences in fidelity and fidelity trajectories, especially provider attitudes toward EBP. The analyses reported here include 14,778 observed fidelity sessions by 868 providers in 172 agencies. We use multilevel modeling to examine fidelity, fidelity trajectories over time, and several potential individual-level predictors of fidelity, including demographics, work history, and attitudes toward EBP. We found: (1) that SafeCare fidelity begins high at baseline (93.85% on average); (2) that SafeCare fidelity displays a statistically significant trend of positive linear growth, even among those with less positive attitudes; and (3) that positive attitudes are associated with slightly higher fidelity on average and at baseline, while negative attitudes are associated with slightly lower fidelity on average and at baseline. To our knowledge, this is the largest longitudinal analysis of EBP fidelity in a child welfare program to date, and our findings support the notion that intensive coaching supports which are titrated over time can be sufficient to ensure sustained high fidelity, at least in some cases. Further, these findings indicate that robust training and coaching processes can ensure high fidelity and fidelity growth even among providers with less positive attitudes toward EBP.

Exploring Community’s Knowledge of the Available Child Protection Services in Southwestern Uganda

Background While the government of Uganda and other stakeholders have put in place many child protection services, the community members need to understand and appreciate the existence of such services, and their consequent utilization. Therefore, the current study set out to explore community members’ knowledge of child protection services available in Sheema District and Mbarara City in South Western Uganda. Methods We conducted 22 key informant interviews with government and civil society officials. Also, six FGDs were conducted with community members. All participants were purposively selected and data were collected using an interview guide. Participants views were audio recorded with their consent, data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Results We found that community members had limited knowledge about child protection services which related to five broad themes, namely; awareness about children's risks and protection concerns, laws on child protection, places and institutions where to seek redress, child birth registration, and existing child welfare programs. Conclusions The study findings revealed that community members had little knowledge of child protection services available in the communities where they lived. We recommend designing and implanting interventions purposed to create community members’ awareness of the existing child protection services.

Identifying key dimensions of indigenous led child welfare services: A qualitative literature review

AbstractNational and state governments in settler colonial countries are increasingly committing to policies and practices aimed at strengthening Indigenous frameworks, programmes and leadership in child protection services. However, research‐based information on Indigenous child welfare services and programmes is sparse. This qualitative literature review explores and documents key features of Indigenous child welfare and protection models and/or frameworks in an international context, with a specific focus on Indigenous children, young people, families, and communities. Twenty‐four publications meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the analysis. Published frameworks, models, services, interventions and/or programmes within the broader area of child welfare and children protection that are Indigenous‐designed and/or led or developed in partnership or collaboration with Indigenous peoples were identified. The review highlights 11 key dimensions that underpin the frameworks, models, services, interventions and/or programmes. Findings of the review also reveal commonalities across Indigenous cultures and contexts that from an Indigenous perspective are considered fundamental to supporting Indigenous children, young people and families involved with child protective services. Additionally, the findings point to the critical need for ongoing advocacy for Indigenous‐designed and led services and programmes, including support for Indigenous research, evaluation and intellectual leadership.

The Traceability and Prospects of Children Welfare in China --Drawing on the Experience of Developed Countries

China's child welfare has gradually shifted from the initial gap-filling type to a moderately inclusive type, which has alleviated China's child welfare woes to a certain extent, but still leaves a gap when it comes to child welfare for families in general. This phenomenon demonstrates the need for China to keep moving toward full inclusion so that all children in the country enjoy the benefits. Faced with the shortcomings of child welfare development in China, the Through the collection and organization of literature and related data, this paper summarizes the experiences of developed countries and makes suggestions for China in moving toward a more comprehensive child welfare program based on an in-depth understanding of the development experiences of four countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan in child welfare. A quality welfare system for children, the future successors of a nation, will also contribute to the strength of the nation.

A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme regarding selected Child Welfare Programmes in India among the mothers of under Five Children in selected rural areas at Bangalore

Children's development is an important as the development of material resources and the best way to develop National human resources is to take care of children. The general standard of living, the level of education, and the financial resources of the country are among the factors that determine child welfare standards. India contributes to about 5-6 million child death every year, more than half of the world’s total. Today child malnutrition is prevalent in 7% among the children under the age of five years in China and 28% in sub- Saharan African compared to a prevalence of 43% in India. Undernutrition found mostly in rural area and is concentrated in a relatively small number of districts and villages with 10% of village and districts according for 27-28% of all underweight children. Methods: The research design used in the study was prr-exprimental one group pretest and posttest design. Non probability purposive sampling was used to draw sample. The data was collected from 60 samples by using structured questionnaire. After seven days of Structured Teaching Programme posttest was administered by using same structured questionnaire to find out the effectiveness of the STP on selected child health programmes. Result: The result showed that the mothers of under five children had 68.3% had adequate knowledge 31.7% had adequate knowledge and none of the mother had inadequate knowledge in the posttest after the STP administration. Enhancement was computed by using paired’t 'test at 0.05 level of significance and it was found to be 31.65, indicating that there is a significant improvement in the knowledge of mothers of under five children. Conclusion: The study findings suggested that the Structured Teaching Programme is an effective instructional method in improving the knowledge of the mothers of under five children regarding selected child welfare programmes in India.

1.24 Strengthening the Front Lines: A Child Welfare Program for Families and Multidisciplinary Professionals

Children in the child welfare system depend on a competent, comprehensive team to provide quality care. Oftentimes, team members have knowledge gaps related to attachment, developmental needs, mental health disorders, evidence-based treatments, and local resources. Innovative curation and dissemination of resources is paramount to bridging this gap. This program identifies knowledge gaps and then strengthens knowledge of families and frontline professionals involved in the child welfare system.

Ensuring Authentic Representation and Collaboration Along with Research to Re-Design Child Welfare

In this invited paper, we critique Barth and colleagues’ (2021). “Research to Consider While Effectively Re-Designing Child Welfare Services” paper that presents 10 commonly held misconceptions in child welfare to provide a foundation for child welfare system reform. We argue that research alone cannot guide the reform of the child welfare system. Rather, we argue that people with lived expertise in the child welfare system and programs must be involved in all parts of collaborations in order to re-design child welfare. Research has limitations and privileging it in setting any reform agenda and efforts is potentially dangerous. We conclude that for effective child welfare system re-design to occur, research-policy-practice partnerships must be built with people with lived expertise in the child welfare system and programs.

Framework for a Group Intervention Aiming at Coping with out-of-home Placement - Focus Groups in Residential Foster Homes

Out-of-home placement is a critical life event for affected children and adolescents. We explored the potential content and conditions for a group intervention aiming at coping with this critical life event by the means of three focus groups with n = 13 participants. The participants reported feelings of guilt, uncertainty concerning their future, experiences of loss, and lack of confidence. So far, standardized programs for sharing the participants' out-of-home care experiences had not been established in their child welfare programs. Under certain circumstances, the participants were willing to take part in a group intervention for this purpose. The intervention should aim at the autobiographical integration of the out-of-home placement as well as the promotion of general protection factors. Further qualitative research is needed to adjust the intervention in order to fit the needs of the target population.

Expanding State Research Capacity in Child Welfare: The Need for State Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

In 2018, funding for child welfare programs drastically changed under the Bipartisan Budget Act: Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). To pull Title IV-E funding for prevention programs, all states must evaluate outcomes of children and families involved in child welfare. To meet these guidelines, state agencies need research structures, including internal Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). IRBs allow state governments to conduct ethical research, and expand research within the discipline. As researchers pursue careers outside of academia, these structures are pivotal and lead to policy contributions and knowledge in the discipline. This study evaluates the following in all 50 US states: How many states have internal IRBs? How many states have IRBs that are accessible to the state’s child welfare agency? How have states set-up internal IRBs to function within a government context? The analysis found 34 states have at least one federally registered IRB of which 31 appear active within the state. However, only 11 of the 31 states have an IRB accessible to child welfare departments. These 11 states provide a blueprint for how to establish and maintain an IRB that supports child welfare agencies. Three distinct set ups emerged: holistic multi-department IRB, singular department/agency IRB, or those governed by an inter-agency sharing agreement. These findings show multiple states use an internal IRB to support state researchers. However, these IRBs are not currently accessible to the child welfare agency. For agencies to meet the requirements of FFPSA, IRBs must be expanded to the child welfare agency or built within the state.

AN ANALYSIS TO WOMEN AND CHILD WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN KOLHAPUR DISTRICT

Women and Child Welfare Departments 1991 have been established. In 1993, our government set up an independent department for the development of women and children. The Women and Child Welfare Center in Maharashtra take care of the helpless, sheltherless, dependent, homeless, deaf and dumb and abandoned. Women and nuns (Devdasi) also get help in this project. Through special planning they provide education, training and protection services and rehabilitation facilities. Such problems and solutions are considered in this research. In this research, Kolhapur District Women and Child Welfare Program and its adverse effects have been analyzed with the above objective chosen by the researcher. Among total population of India, half population is of women’s, nation’s development is impossible without their development. Any country in the world can make progress by ignoring the power of women. We cannot make social, economic and political progress of the country without women. Today women have entered every field; they will be given the opportunity to go sour in their field. A number of projects have been launched for this purpose. Women empowerment is done through self-help groups. Before taking their progress in consideration, in the past how where their plight and how they achieve progress this is to be taken account. How these women enter in various fields? The journey of their struggle and plight to be pursuid and studied.

Interventions and programs that support the health and development of infants with prenatal substance exposure in foster care: a scoping review.

The objective of this scoping review was to describe the characteristics of interventions and programs that support the health and development of infants in foster care who have prenatal substance exposure, their foster care providers, and birth families. Infants in foster care may have experienced prenatal substance exposure, neglect, and maltreatment, as well as disruptions in their relationships with primary caregivers. Despite multiple vulnerabilities, they also have great capacity for overcoming early adversities. Enhanced foster care has been identified as a key influence on the positive development of infants in the child welfare system. This scoping review considered publications that described interventions and programs designed to support foster care providers who care for infants less than 12 months of age with prenatal substance exposure. This review included research studies and gray literature. This scoping review focused on sources that described caregiving interventions and elements of programs that took place within the context of family or home-based foster care. A three-step search strategy was used to identify publications in the English language from January 2000 to December 2019. A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, Academic Search Premier, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases. Titles and abstracts were initially screened to assess if publications met the inclusion criteria, followed by full-text review. Publications that met the inclusion criteria were assessed by two independent reviewers using a data extraction tool developed for this review. Findings were thematically analyzed on the basis of similarity in focus and descriptively presented with tables and figures to support the findings. Eighty-one publications were included, including 48 research papers and 33 gray literature sources. Thematic analysis of the focus of each publication resulted in identification of four core themes: i) mental health promotion for infants in care; ii) child welfare program elements; iii) identification of infants and families at risk of requiring foster care; and iv) outcomes for infants in care and their families. The interventions and programs identified during this scoping review were primarily focused on supporting social-emotional development. With the significant focus on infant mental health, supporting birth parents to stay attached to their infants was a key focus of the majority of publications. The concept of being able to proactively identify risk factors that were associated with infants requiring foster care emerged in relation to how family preservation could be supported. Strategies identified as contributing to the development of successful interventions and programs included having foster care providers participate as collaborators in designing services, designing services that are adaptable to a range of contexts, involving community partners outside child welfare, and having developmentally appropriate programs. Infants represent a significant proportion of children in foster care. A developmental perspective is needed for child welfare service planning to address their unique needs. Intervention during the early years holds significant potential for promoting positive developmental pathways and family preservation.

The Development of the Assessment Criteria and Index for the Child Welfare Program

The Development of the Assessment Criteria and Index for the Child Welfare Program

Weighing Indigeneity: Culture and the Indigenous Child’s Best Interests under Bill C-92

Bill C-92 (or, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families) came into force in January 2020, marking an important milestone in the history of Indigenous child welfare in Canada. This paper briefly reviews the history of the Indigenous child welfare system and the systemic problems and policy decisions that have led to the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in care. It then attempts to predict the effect of Bill C-92 on specific areas of this system. While acknowledging that many factors (such as the meaningful recognition of Indigenous peoples’ inherent right to self-government, as well as increased funding to Indigenous communities’ child welfare programs) are important facets of a holistic solution to the Indigenous child welfare crisis, this paper focuses on the narrow area of the judiciary’s implementation of the Best Interests of the Child principle. It argues that judges have hitherto implemented this principle on the assumption that preserving an Indigenous child’s culture is at best a secondary priority, thereby exacerbating the existing crisis. The paper further argues that Bill C-92 runs against this trend in the case law and that it elevates the weight of preserving an Indigenous child’s culture so that it is a primary concern. The paper accomplishes this task by reviewing existing jurisprudence on Indigenous child welfare and comparing existing provincial statutes with the provisions of Bill C-92.

Knowledge of women members of Gram Panchayats about women and child welfare programmes

Knowledge of women members of Gram Panchayats about women and child welfare programmes

Foster agency workers’ perceptions of sleep health among children in foster care

Quality sleep during the formative years directly contributes to healthy physical and emotional outcomes via interactions with multiple bioregulatory systems. At the same time, sleep regulation is adversely affected by trauma, unstable/inconsistent environments and insecure attachment to a caregiver, suggesting youth in foster care are at extraordinary risk for sleep disturbances. To date, however, the sleep health of these children has received scant attention. The current study surveyed 43 foster care licensing agency personnel (95.3% female) who work directly with foster families about their experiences and perceptions of sleep among these children. On average, participants reported having worked with foster families for almost 10 years (M = 9.6 years; SD = 7.6) at the time of survey completion. The most frequently endorsed sleep-related problems were difficulty falling asleep (endorsed by 86% of participants), resisting/refusing to go to bed (65.1%), nightmares (62.7%), nighttime fears (62.7%) and wetting the bed (62.7%). These problems were perceived to sometimes contribute to child placement disruption. With regard to sleep-focused education/training, a majority of participants believed a brief, group-based training about sleep would be the most effective approach for helping caregivers to ensure children receive adequate sleep. While preliminary, findings indicate trauma-related sleep disturbances are common among children in foster care and potentially contribute to placement instability. In addition to more research, there is need for child welfare policies and programs to promote healthy sleep.

Has the US Child Welfare System Become an Informal Income Maintenance Programme? A Literature Review

Anti‐poverty policies and income maintenance programmes aim to reduce poverty and income inequality, yet rates of poverty and income inequality have remained stable or increased in 20 of 29 developed nations. Although poverty and income inequality have increased in the USA, the depth and reach of income maintenance programmes have eroded, placing undue strain on other societal systems like education and child welfare. The burden of poverty on child welfare is troubling given the strong association between poverty and child welfare involvement. We conducted a literature review to examine the extent to which the US child welfare system acts as an informal income maintenance programme. Three interrelated research questions were explored: (a) How and when, and under what circumstances, does the US child welfare system provide families with cash and in‐kind transfers, that is, income, food, shelter and durable goods? (b) Which cash and in‐kind transfers are most common in the US child welfare system? (c) How do cash and in‐kind transfers impact families in the child welfare system? Our review yielded eight articles. These articles indicated that cash and in‐kind transfers improve programme retention and reduce child welfare involvement. Implications for research, policy and practice are discussed.‘We conducted a literature review to examine the extent to which the US child welfare system acts as an informal income maintenance programme’Key Practitioner Messages US child welfare programmes offer cash and in‐kind transfers similar to those provided in centralised income maintenance programmes. Cash and in‐kind transfers like food, housing and strollers reduce child welfare involvement and increase programme retention. Conditional cash transfers are cash incentives that boost recruitment and retention in parenting programmes. Even inexpensive material support like donated clothing improve family and programme outcomes in the child welfare system.

Botswana children's needs: orphans and vulnerable children dominated child welfare system

Children's needs in Botswana received considerable attention in the past three decades owing to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country. These decades of legal and policy practice processes focused on orphan and vulnerable children (OVC), ensured that the needs of the general population of Botswana children are grossly understudied, underestimated, and therefore, remain unaddressed. This study sought to determine the needs of the general population of children. Fifty-two visual arts, six semi-structured interviews, twenty-six in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions were conducted in two purposively selected sites with children, policy-makers, practitioners, community leaders and caregivers. The data were analyzed using deductive content analysis approach. Children expressed the need for basic, safety, love and belonging needs. Given some pockets of poverty that exists in Botswana, it is likely that children in the general population have needs similar to those of OVC. Therefore, child welfare program should also target children who are not considered OVC.